Quino el Guardian Liveaboard Overview

Without a doubt, Socorro Island and the Sea of Cortez are home to some of the best dive sites in Mexico, and on the Quino El Guardian, you can reach the most remote dive sites with ease. Unspoiled reefs and a rich ecosystem await, where you can expect to see schooling hammerheads, tiger sharks, giant manta rays, sea lions, and millions of fish, depending on your itinerary.

Once a fishing boat, in 2015, Quino El Guardian was converted into a liveaboard for diving, educational, and scientific research. As such, it was built for safety, comfort, and convenience, making it one of the best liveaboards in Mexico. Quino El Guardian offers year-round diving itineraries around Socorro Island and the Sea of Cortez, but it also has themed trips and Citizen Science programs. The dive boat is even available for custom charters.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of Quino El Guardian liveaboard.

Where to book

Quino el Guardian liveaboard boat anchored near mountains at dusk

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Diving on the Quino El Guardian

A sea lion dives toward the camera with others swimming behind it

A large school of mobula rays swims together beneath the surface

Snorkelers swim alongside a whale shark near the surface

A yellow seahorse clings to soft coral on the reef

Quino El Guardian offers different itineraries throughout the year, with trips lasting between six and 13 days. Depending on the itinerary, Quino El Guardian departs from either San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Penasco, or La Paz.

Between November and May, Quino El Guardian visits the world-famous Socorro Island together with the three other islands in the Revillagigedo Archipelago. These remote, volcanic islands in the Pacific are known for a high concentration of pelagics. Big animal encounters include hammerheads, manta rays, whale sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, humpback whales, tuna, and more.

Between July and December, Quino El Guardian is in the Sea of Cortez. Trips to the Midriff Islands offer wall dives and a colony of sea lions, and Explore Baja and Southern Safari dive excursions offer the chance to see wrecks, whale sharks, macro critters, and more friendly sea lions. All the itineraries in the Sea of Cortez also include one night dive with mobula rays.

As a scientific vessel, Quino El Guardian also has research dive trips. With a marine biologist onboard conducting targeted research, and through the Citizen Science programs, you can get involved in marine life and ocean research. Activities include animal identification, tagging, and fish counts.

Quino El Guardian also has themed liveaboard trips, i.e., women-only dive trips, family trips, and underwater photography workshops. And if none of Quino El Guardian’s itineraries appeal to you, you can also hire the boat for custom charters.

Diving in Socorro and the Sea of Cortez often means diving in open water with strong currents, so this trip is ideal for advanced divers only. To get the most out of your dives, there’s nitrox (with a surcharge). If you’re not nitrox certified, you can do the short course onboard.

Quino El Guardian has a limited selection of scuba gear to rent—BCDs, regulators, and Shearwater Peregrine dive computers. Either reserve what you need well in advance or pack your essential travel scuba kit. Don’t forget to bring an SMB, too. Water temperatures range between 73 to 80 F (23 to 26 C).

Highlights:

Big animal dives in Socorro Island
Night diving with mobula rays in the Sea of Cortez
Themed dive trips and Citizen Science diving programs
Limited rental scuba gear

Onboard the Quino El Guardian

A cushioned lounge seating area with a stairway aboard the Quino El Guardian

A teal-curtained bunk cabin aboard the Quino El Guardian

A compact ensuite bathroom with a curved shower stall aboard the boat

With two decks, Quino El Guardian is a spacious yet compact liveaboard at 90 feet long (27 m). With a total capacity of 16 people, there are five air-conditioned staterooms located on the lower deck. Four cabins feature two bunk beds, so each cabin can sleep four people. Each bed has a privacy curtain.

One cabin offers two beds (an upper bunk and lower bunk), which is usually reserved for couples. There are four shared bathrooms on the main deck assigned by gender. Each cabin is assigned a bathroom, so you can leave your toiletries inside.

On the main deck, there is a salon with sofas, a TV, DVDs, and a computer table setup. Meals are served in the dining room, where there are two big tables and long benches. Quino El Guardian also has a shaded top deck with sun lounges and bean bags.

The dive deck is huge with storage space for all your dive gear. There is also a spacious camera table with many power outlets.

Highlights:

Four shared bathrooms
Spacious camera table

Dining onboard the Quino El Guardian

Dining tables set with blue plates and wine bottles in the salon

Plated roast beef dinners with vegetables and potatoes ready to serve

A grill and buffet table with drinks and snacks set up on the open deck

Eating onboard Quino El Guardian starts with an all-American breakfast, including items like pancakes, waffles, eggs, and sausage or bacon.

For lunch, you’ll find homemade soups, beef, fish, chicken, pasta, burgers, tacos, and more American-style fare. Afternoon snacks include mini sandwiches, sliced cheese and meats, nachos, guacamole, etc. Dinner is a three-course meal that starts with a salad, continues with either seafood or meat, and ends with a homemade dessert.

There may also be a barbecue on the top deck, where the chef prepares carne asada, Mexican-style.

All hot/cold drinks are included and, at the end of your last dive, you can also enjoy a complimentary glass of local wine or beer.